Budget would tighten abortion restrictions

Jun. 25, 2013

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Anti-abortion Republicans have added a budget provision that would require a doctor to look for a fetal heartbeat before performing an abortion, along with upholding provisions that would withhold family-planning money from Planned Parenthood and restrict abortion clinics.

Republicans added on Tuesday a last-minute provision requiring a doctor to use external medical means – likely an abdominal ultrasound – to find the heartbeat. The doctor would then have to notify the woman about the presence of the heartbeat and the fetus’ likelihood of surviving to full term.

The budget would also send taxpayer money to other health clinics over abortion providers such as Planned Parenthood. Taxpayer money already can’t be used for abortions, opponents say, and the defunding could raise costs or cut off care for low-income women who often rely on Planned Parenthood for affordable, judgment-free medical care.

In addition, public hospitals would be unable to make required patient-transfer agreements with abortion clinics.

To stay open, clinics would have to find a private hospital willing to make the agreement, a concern for centers in areas without a private hospital or with private hospitals that have religious affiliations.

Abortion-rights advocates continue to call on their allies to petition Gov. John Kasich for vetoes of the measures.

Although Kasich has not commented on whether he will veto them, he has emphasized that he opposes abortion. ■